Machine for cleaning hemp



Ne Model.)

T. J. FERGUSON.

- MAGHINE FOR CLEANING HEMP.

No. 253,195. Patented Feb. 7,1882.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR he Wflzlim T Ifezgmsm ATTOENEY.

N, PETERS. Fllulo-Lilhographur. Waihmgtwl. n. c.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. FERGUSON, OF PIKESVILLE, MARYLAND.

MACHINE FOR CLEANING HEMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 253,195, dated February 7, 1882.

Application filed November 23, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. FERGUSON, ot' Pikesville, Baltimore county, State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cleaning Hemp; and I hereby declare the same to be fully; clearly, and exactly described as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a cross-sectional view, of the device.

My invention relates to machines for carding and cleaning hemp; and it consists in a device of that class constructed and operating substantially as hereinafter described, the points of novelty being made the subject of the claims.

In thedrawings, A is the main frame, in which are journaled rollers a b, and A is an upper frame, having corresponding rollers, a 1). Between the frames are rubber springs O (J, through which pass bolts having thumbscrews 0. On turning the screws up or down the upper frame is raised or lowered, as desired. Around the rollers a b a b is led a pair of belts or chains, (1, connected by strips of metal having teeth d, as shown.

At the front of the machine is a feed-apron, D, led over rollers, as usual, one of the same, 0, being provided with a crank, E.

F F are the feed-rollers, of which the upper one, F, is vertically adjustable in its bearings, being held down by a lever, f, and weight W.

In operation the belts d are'driven in the direction of the arrows by means of a belt on the pulley B, the motion being communicated from the lower to the upper shaft by gearing a. The teeth cl of the two pairs of belts 'interlock, and the belts travel at the same rate of speed. The hemp is placed upon the beltD,

and is fed forward by turning the crank E.

As the hemp passes between the rollers F F it is seized by the teeth 67, which tend to draw it forward. The motion of the rollers F F is then stopped, holding the hemp, while the for ward motion of the teeth (I combs the fiber, straightening and cleaning it. The hemp is then retracted by a reverse rotation of the roliersF F and is turned end for end, and the operation is repeated.

What I claim is 1. In combination with the belts having transverse bars provided with interlocking teeth, the feed'rollers F F, roller 0, and crank E, as set forth. v

2. In combination with the belts having interlocking teeth, as described, the rollers F F, endless apron I), roller 6, and crank E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS J. FERGUSON Witnesses It. D. WILLIAMS, JNo. T. MADDOX. 

